Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has achieved a major milestone with the completion of the 2.639 km Wavarle Tunnel (Tunnel-2) on the Panvel-Karjat suburban rail corridor, set to become the longest in Mumbai’s suburban network.
Tunnel Specifications and Engineering Feats
The tunnel measures 7.323m high and 13.282m wide, built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) through the challenging Sahyadri hills. Workers logged over 24 lakh man-hours across 16 months of round-the-clock shifts, starting excavation on February 22, 2023, and achieving breakthrough in June 2024 despite water seepage and low rock cover.
Features include emergency refuge areas, SCADA monitoring, advanced lighting, firefighting, and ventilation systems meeting international standards.
Part of 29.6km Double-Line Project
This tunnel forms part of three totaling 3.2km: Nadhal (234m), Wavarle (2.639km), and Kirawali (333m) on the Rs 2,782-crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3 (MUTP-3). The corridor will enable suburban trains from Mumbai to Karjat via Panvel, reducing Central Railway congestion and CSMT-Karjat travel time.
It enhances connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport, Raigad, and regional growth areas, with 50% project completion targeted by December 2025.
Impact on Mumbai Commute and Economy
The double line relieves pressure on existing single-track freight/passenger routes, supports high-speed infrastructure, and catalyzes development in Panvel-Karjat.
